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The City of New York is working to update its water system and is undergoing serious construction in certain areas of Manhattan. One area that’s being torn apart is on Hudson Street in Tribeca. The project began in August 2010 is not expected to be complete until Winter 2015.

As a result, pedestrian access is limited, business owners are losing street visibility, parking garages are being blocked, parking is limited, an M20 bus stop was lost and traffic to and from the Holland Tunnel is perpetually congested.

The project is currently in phase 2 and construction is running from Laight Street to Hubert Street. In a recent CB1 meeting, residents and business owners joined to raise awareness of the project and it’s effects. The DDC’s (Department of Design and Construction) urges CB1 residents to reach out to Karen Butler (hudsonstprojectccl@gmail.com), the project community liaison, if you have any questions or concerns. You can also check here for updates.

William Ivey Long is a five time Tony Award winning costume designer and is currently working on his 60th production, ‘Catch Me If You Can.’ He has designed costumes for everything and everyone all across the globe — from Chicago and Guys and Dolls to Siegfried and Roy to Mick Jagger, Mr. Long is a fascinating man who is full of stories, passion and humor.

Long plays a large role in the creation of characters and is very respected in both the fashion and theater industries. And, with even 60 successful productions, a non-profit organization in his hometown in North Carolina and five Tony Awards under his belt, William Ivey Long does not plan on stopping anytime soon.

But what is it that keeps him going? The fame? The joy of working with world class actors? The process of designing intricate costumes after months of design and prototypes? It’s much more simple than that.

Tribeca is a neighborhood rich with families, restaurants, parks and things to do. It is also becoming increasingly more rich with construction sites. Residents have expressed frustration with the never ending sidewalks covered in scaffolding, lack of parking spaces due to construction machines and heightened noise.

Here is a map of the latest list of construction sites and expected dates on completion. In the interim… avoid these areas if you’re looking for parking, a quiet walking path or if you’re superstitious and don’t like walking under ladders.

Having grown up in the suburbs, I was never faced with the difficulties of traveling by foot as everything was always a 10 minute drive away. Now having lived in Manhattan for the past 6 months, I have became well versed in pedestrian etiquette… and the lack thereof.

Commuting from the skinny streets of SoHo to the wide avenues of Midtown, I have seen it all. Umbrella wars, people pushing one another to get to their destination, eye rolls, “ughhhh’s” and “excuuuuse me’s.”

Based off a recent survey, I learned I am not the only one who sees pedestrian etiquette as a long lasting pest of New York City.

After having a wide variety of ages, genders and demographics fill out the above survey regarding Pedestrian politics, the issue at hand is clear: New Yorkers are obnoxious, unapologetic, think streets should be wider to accommodate influxes of people especially during the 5pm dash.

Out of a pool of over 25 people, only 1 person felt as though pedestrian etiquette is not a problem at all and 5 people roll their eyes when someone bumps into them.

Are New Yorkers well versed in pedestrian protocols? Or do we live up to the reputation of being fast paced, annoying and rude? Take the survey and provide your two cents!

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The corner of Mulberry and East Houston Streets serves as a home to broken wood planks, spray painted sheds, enormous pot holes and three bright yellow CAT machines. It has been this way for nearly the past 2 years.

290 Mulberry Street is a site of (what someday may be) a 9 unit condo building. It serves as not only a visual disturbance but also is affecting traffic patterns, daily life, local businesses and disrupting neighbors living within the vicinity.

Tanisha Cruz, an employee at Zachary’s Smile (317 Lafayette Street), has observed business trends fluctuate during the past few years due to the neighboring construction site.Pests by chaselindsayrosen

Andy Warman, a NoHo resident always have to give himself extra time in the morning to get across the street and get a taxi to get to work on time.Pests by chaselindsayrosen

Eric Rosado, a doorman (Windsor Communities) in the area, has singlehandedly seen traffic patterns worsen over the past few years due to the construction site at 290 Mulberry Street.Windsordoorman by chaselindsayrosen

Brooke Rosenberg, a SoHo resident lives across the street from the construction site and had to go out and purchase a machine to drown out the sounds.Pests by chaselindsayrosen

The discussion of changing all of Manhattan’s 250,900 street signs has caused [to some, it has added] animosity between Manhattanites and government organizations. This project will cost $27.6 million and projected to be completed by 2018. The new signs ring in at about $110 a pop and will be designed to be easier to read, making roads safer, according to NYC Department of Transportation.

New Yorkers are speaking out. There are plenty of other things this city could do with $27 million.

An example of what the new signs will look like.

Finish 2nd avenue subway line: This project has been going on for years already. Deadlines have been pushed back, and costs have heightened. Businesses and residents in the area have been extremely disrupted and will continue to be until the line is finished… which is not suspected to be until 2020.

Finish Ground Zero Memoriam: The Freedom Tower will not be finished until 17 years after the 9/11 attacks. Construction has been lagging due to transportation of goods. With a $3 billion budget, you’d think that commemorating the lives of those lost would be amongst the city’s top priorities… clearly they are in no rush.

Keep MTA costs stabilized: Manhattanites are angered at the MTA’s propositions to increase the cost of public transportation while simultaneously cutting service. Since when is paying more for less fair?

Cease police officer layoffs: NYC is in a budget crisis and the NYPD is being forced to lay off officers. Cutting the NYPD budget is certainly not going to help reduce the rising NYC crime rate.

Better the NYC public school system: Over the past year, the NYC public school system has seen serious drops in average grades. ‘A’ status city issued report cards fell from 85% to 25%. The Department of Education has neglected to make any changes just yet due to the heighten costs associating with bettering schools.

Keep Alex Rodriguez a Yankee: His $27 million salary is equal to the cost of changing all NYC street signs. Considered one of the best athletes of our time, NYC could spend this money on keeping him around for another year.

Should changing the signs be a top priority? In a recent poll from New York Magazine, 90% of people feel city officials should not change street signs. “We are faced with more important issues that need to be addressed and taken care of before changing the street sign aesthetics,” said Manhattan resident Brooke Rosenberg.

Street sign replacement has already started in the Bronx. Only time [or the need for cuts in other budgets to finish this project] will only tell the effectiveness of the new street signs.

According to Merriam Webster, ‘fair’ is defined as a gathering of stalls and amusements for public entertainment. New York City is known for is street fairs. And, with summer on its way out and fall on its way in, we are entering ultimate street fair season. This time around, things are changing.

Imagine this: Walking out of your apartment building, pushing past the drunk tourists hanging onto their foot long margaritas that have been loitering on your stoop all afternoon. Then, getting a big whiff of sizzling olive oil, sausage and peppers, opposed to some fresh air. You are forced by the patrolling police to wait for the light to change to run across the street. Once you cross the street, the faint sounds of Italian music, Motley Crue karaoke and carnival games that you thought you were dreaming about last night, really exist.

The vendors that you see from your bathroom window are displaying and selling all the things that you have smelled through your air conditioner unit for the past few days. They are selling the ‘best’ fried Oreos in the country, hand rolled Cuban cigars and homemade cheeses.

And don’t forget about the screaming kids saying “Mom please can I just have another $5 to try and win a goldfish!?!?” And just when you think you’ve escaped the madness, someone drops a piece of his or her blooming onion on your foot.

These notorious fair bring more than interesting aromas, oversized stuffed animals, herds of people and police officers. Street fairs cause traffic disruptions, loss of commerce in other parts of the city, heightened police costs for overtime, sanitation issues, noise complaints and terror threats.

Is the fresh fruit smoothie really worth it? Last year alone NYC held 321 street fairs, generating $1.6 million for the city… But, it cost $2.4 million in police overtime.

So why is NYC continuing to hold these massive street fairs and festivals? According to a report released by The Center for an Urban Future, the issue at hand is a lack of diversity. Once you’ve been to one street fair, you’ve seen them all. While the gyro and funnel cake always tastes better at Little Johnny’s Stand at San Gennaro’s it’s the same recipe being used by Mary’s Meats at the Murray Street Festival.

As of last year, Mayor Bloomberg established his stance on street fair culture. And though he claims that he “loves to go down and have one of those hot sausages like anyone else”, NYC street fairs are something that we can no longer afford.

San Gennaro’s Feast is going on now in Little Italy, for the 84th year. It is New York City’s longest-running, biggest and most respected religious outdoor festival in the US. It has undergone cultural change over the past years, not only has the fair attracted a wide diversity of people, but the food vendors have adapted from selling traditional Italian food (canoli and pizza) to new American crazes (fried oreos and wheatgrass shots).